diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index fcc0ed13c..b7e8cf04c 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -152,7 +152,6 @@ option(exceptions "build with exception support" ON)
 option(logging "build with logging" OFF)
 option(verbose-logging "build with verbose logging" OFF)
 option(build_tests "build tests" OFF)
-option(build_examples "build examples" ON)
 
 set(CMAKE_CONFIGURATION_TYPES Debug Release RelWithDebInfo)
 
@@ -311,6 +310,10 @@ add_definitions(-D_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64)
 add_definitions(-DBOOST_EXCEPTION_DISABLE)
 add_definitions(-DBOOST_ASIO_ENABLE_CANCELIO)
 
+if("${CMAKE_CXX_COMPILER_ID}" STREQUAL "Clang")
+	add_definitions(-fcolor-diagnostics)
+endif()
+
 if (tcmalloc)
 	target_link_libraries(torrent-rasterbar tcmalloc)
 endif()
@@ -342,16 +345,10 @@ install(DIRECTORY include/libtorrent
 	PATTERN ".svn" EXCLUDE)
 install(FILES ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/libtorrent-rasterbar.pc DESTINATION ${LIBDIR}/pkgconfig)
 
-# === build examples ===
-if(build_examples)
-	# this will make some internal functions available in the
-	# DLL interface, for the examples to access
-	add_definitions(-DTORRENT_EXPORT_EXTRA)
-
-	# to build the examples, run cmake in this subdirectory
-	# after libtorrent is built
-	file(MAKE_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/examples)
-endif()
+# === set up examples directory as an independent project ===
+file(MAKE_DIRECTORY ${CMAKE_CURRENT_BINARY_DIR}/examples)
+configure_file(examples/run_cmake.sh.in examples/run_cmake.sh)
+# to build the examples, run examples/run_cmake.sh after building libtorrent
 
 # === build tests ===
 if(build_tests)
diff --git a/bindings/python/client.py b/bindings/python/client.py
index 05687cbf5..673b034f5 100755
--- a/bindings/python/client.py
+++ b/bindings/python/client.py
@@ -229,8 +229,7 @@ def main():
         if f.startswith('magnet:') or f.startswith('http://') or f.startswith('https://'):
             atp["url"] = f
         else:
-            e = lt.bdecode(open(f, 'rb').read())
-            info = lt.torrent_info(e)
+            info = lt.torrent_info(f)
             print('Adding \'%s\'...' % info.name())
 
             try:
diff --git a/bindings/python/compile_flags.in b/bindings/python/compile_flags.in
index 6e23cdbd4..ae7868d5d 100644
--- a/bindings/python/compile_flags.in
+++ b/bindings/python/compile_flags.in
@@ -1 +1 @@
-@COMPILETIME_OPTIONS@ @CPPFLAGS@ @LIBS@ @BOOST_SYSTEM_LIB@ @BOOST_PYTHON_LIB@ @PTHREAD_LIBS@ @OPENSSL_LIBS@ @OPENSSL_LDFLAGS@ @OPENSSL_INCLUDES@ -I@top_srcdir@/include
+@COMPILETIME_OPTIONS@ @CPPFLAGS@ @LIBS@ @BOOST_CPPFLAGS@ @BOOST_SYSTEM_LIB@ @BOOST_PYTHON_LIB@ @PTHREAD_LIBS@ @OPENSSL_LIBS@ @OPENSSL_LDFLAGS@ @OPENSSL_INCLUDES@ -I@top_srcdir@/include
diff --git a/bindings/python/link_flags.in b/bindings/python/link_flags.in
index 102fc5478..c724d6fea 100644
--- a/bindings/python/link_flags.in
+++ b/bindings/python/link_flags.in
@@ -1 +1 @@
--L@top_builddir@/src/.libs @LDFLAGS@
+-L@top_builddir@/src/.libs @BOOST_LDFLAGS@ @LDFLAGS@
diff --git a/bindings/python/src/torrent_info.cpp b/bindings/python/src/torrent_info.cpp
index 81424836e..358d48d4b 100644
--- a/bindings/python/src/torrent_info.cpp
+++ b/bindings/python/src/torrent_info.cpp
@@ -177,6 +177,26 @@ namespace
 
 } // namespace unnamed
 
+boost::intrusive_ptr<torrent_info> buffer_constructor(char const* buf, int len, int flags)
+{
+   error_code ec;
+   boost::intrusive_ptr<torrent_info> ret(new torrent_info(buf, len, ec, flags));
+#ifndef BOOST_NO_EXCEPTIONS
+   if (ec) throw libtorrent_exception(ec);
+#endif
+   return ret;
+}
+
+boost::intrusive_ptr<torrent_info> file_constructor(std::string const& filename, int flags)
+{
+   error_code ec;
+   boost::intrusive_ptr<torrent_info> ret(new torrent_info(filename, ec, flags));
+#ifndef BOOST_NO_EXCEPTIONS
+   if (ec) throw libtorrent_exception(ec);
+#endif
+   return ret;
+}
+
 void bind_torrent_info()
 {
     return_value_policy<copy_const_reference> copy;
@@ -196,10 +216,12 @@ void bind_torrent_info()
 #ifndef TORRENT_NO_DEPRECATE
         .def(init<entry const&>(arg("e")))
 #endif
+
         .def(init<sha1_hash const&, int>((arg("info_hash"), arg("flags") = 0)))
-        .def(init<char const*, int, int>((arg("buffer"), arg("length"), arg("flags") = 0)))
-        .def(init<std::string, int>((arg("file"), arg("flags") = 0)))
+        .def("__init__", make_constructor(&buffer_constructor))
+        .def("__init__", make_constructor(&file_constructor))
         .def(init<torrent_info const&>((arg("ti"))))
+
 #if TORRENT_USE_WSTRING && !defined TORRENT_NO_DEPRECATE
         .def(init<std::wstring, int>((arg("file"), arg("flags") = 0)))
 #endif
diff --git a/examples/Makefile.am b/examples/Makefile.am
index 10a2a185a..d757934f8 100644
--- a/examples/Makefile.am
+++ b/examples/Makefile.am
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ bin_PROGRAMS = $(example_programs)
 endif
 
 EXTRA_PROGRAMS = $(example_programs)
-EXTRA_DIST = Jamfile CMakeLists.txt cmake/FindLibtorrentRasterbar.cmake
+EXTRA_DIST = Jamfile CMakeLists.txt run_cmake.sh.in cmake/FindLibtorrentRasterbar.cmake
 
 client_test_SOURCES = client_test.cpp print.cpp session_view.cpp torrent_view.cpp
 #client_test_LDADD = $(top_builddir)/src/libtorrent-rasterbar.la
diff --git a/examples/client_test.cpp b/examples/client_test.cpp
index 9d16e5714..7e4536b6b 100644
--- a/examples/client_test.cpp
+++ b/examples/client_test.cpp
@@ -34,6 +34,10 @@ POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
 
 #include "libtorrent/config.hpp"
 
+#ifdef TORRENT_WINDOWS
+#include <direct.h> // for _mkdir
+#endif
+
 #ifdef _MSC_VER
 #pragma warning(push, 1)
 #endif
@@ -634,8 +638,8 @@ std::vector<std::string> list_dir(std::string path
 {
 	std::vector<std::string> ret;
 #ifdef TORRENT_WINDOWS
-	if (!f.empty() && f[f.size()-1] != '\\') f += "\\*";
-	else f += "*";
+	if (!path.empty() && path[path.size()-1] != '\\') path += "\\*";
+	else path += "*";
 
 	std::wstring wpath;
 	libtorrent::utf8_wchar(path, wpath);
@@ -822,24 +826,36 @@ bool handle_alert(libtorrent::session& ses, libtorrent::alert* a
 	if (torrent_need_cert_alert* p = alert_cast<torrent_need_cert_alert>(a))
 	{
 		torrent_handle h = p->handle;
-		error_code ec;
-		file_status st;
 		std::string base_name = path_append("certificates", to_hex(h.info_hash().to_string()));
 		std::string cert = base_name + ".pem";
 		std::string priv = base_name + "_key.pem";
-		stat_file(cert, &st, ec);
-		if (ec)
+
+#ifdef TORRENT_WINDOWS
+		struct ::_stat st;
+		int ret = ::_stat(cert.c_str(), &st);
+		if (ret < 0 || (st.st_mode & _S_IFREG) == 0)
+#else
+		struct ::stat st;
+		int ret = ::stat(cert.c_str(), &st);
+		if (ret < 0 || (st.st_mode & S_IFREG) == 0)
+#endif
 		{
 			char msg[256];
-			snprintf(msg, sizeof(msg), "ERROR. could not load certificate %s: %s\n", cert.c_str(), ec.message().c_str());
+			snprintf(msg, sizeof(msg), "ERROR. could not load certificate %s: %s\n", cert.c_str(), strerror(errno));
 			if (g_log_file) fprintf(g_log_file, "[%s] %s\n", timestamp(), msg);
 			return true;
 		}
-		stat_file(priv, &st, ec);
-		if (ec)
+
+#ifdef TORRENT_WINDOWS
+		ret = ::_stat(priv.c_str(), &st);
+		if (ret < 0 || (st.st_mode & _S_IFREG) == 0)
+#else
+		ret = ::stat(priv.c_str(), &st);
+		if (ret < 0 || (st.st_mode & S_IFREG) == 0)
+#endif
 		{
 			char msg[256];
-			snprintf(msg, sizeof(msg), "ERROR. could not load private key %s: %s\n", priv.c_str(), ec.message().c_str());
+			snprintf(msg, sizeof(msg), "ERROR. could not load private key %s: %s\n", priv.c_str(), strerror(errno));
 			if (g_log_file) fprintf(g_log_file, "[%s] %s\n", timestamp(), msg);
 			return true;
 		}
@@ -1408,7 +1424,11 @@ int main(int argc, char* argv[])
 	}
 
 	// create directory for resume files
+#ifdef TORRENT_WINDOWS
+	int ret = _mkdir(path_append(save_path, ".resume").c_str());
+#else
 	int ret = mkdir(path_append(save_path, ".resume").c_str(), 0777);
+#endif
 	if (ret < 0)
 		fprintf(stderr, "failed to create resume file directory: (%d) %s\n"
 			, errno, strerror(errno));
diff --git a/examples/run_cmake.sh.in b/examples/run_cmake.sh.in
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..53269e721
--- /dev/null
+++ b/examples/run_cmake.sh.in
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+cd ${libtorrent_BINARY_DIR}/examples
+cmake \
+    -D libtorrent_includes_asio_source=${asio_source} \
+    -G "${CMAKE_GENERATOR}" \
+    $@ \
+    ${libtorrent_SOURCE_DIR}/examples
diff --git a/test/test_resume.cpp b/test/test_resume.cpp
index 8b702ec5a..343bbc7a3 100644
--- a/test/test_resume.cpp
+++ b/test/test_resume.cpp
@@ -109,7 +109,11 @@ std::vector<char> generate_resume_data(torrent_info* ti)
 	entry::list_type& httpseeds = rd["httpseeds"].list();
 	httpseeds.push_back(entry("http://resume_data_http_seed.com"));
 
+#ifdef TORRENT_WINDOWS
+	rd["save_path"] = "c:\\resume_data save_path";
+#else
 	rd["save_path"] = "/resume_data save_path";
+#endif
 
 	std::vector<char> ret;
 	bencode(back_inserter(ret), rd);
@@ -127,7 +131,11 @@ torrent_status test_resume_flags(int flags)
 	
 	p.ti = ti;
 	p.flags = flags;
+#ifdef TORRENT_WINDOWS
+	p.save_path = "c:\\add_torrent_params save_path";
+#else
 	p.save_path = "/add_torrent_params save_path";
+#endif
 	p.trackers.push_back("http://add_torrent_params_tracker.com/announce");
 	p.url_seeds.push_back("http://add_torrent_params_url_seed.com");
 
@@ -165,7 +173,11 @@ int test_main()
 	fprintf(stderr, "flags: 0\n");
 	s = test_resume_flags(0);
 	default_tests(s);
+#ifdef TORRENT_WINDOWS
+	TEST_EQUAL(s.save_path, "c:\\add_torrent_params save_path");
+#else
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.save_path, "/add_torrent_params save_path");
+#endif
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.sequential_download, false);
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.paused, false);
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.auto_managed, false);
@@ -180,7 +192,11 @@ int test_main()
 	fprintf(stderr, "flags: use_resume_save_path\n");
 	s = test_resume_flags(add_torrent_params::flag_use_resume_save_path);
 	default_tests(s);
+#ifdef TORRENT_WINDOWS
+	TEST_EQUAL(s.save_path, "c:\\resume_data save_path");
+#else
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.save_path, "/resume_data save_path");
+#endif
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.sequential_download, false);
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.paused, false);
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.auto_managed, false);
@@ -197,7 +213,11 @@ int test_main()
 		| add_torrent_params::flag_paused);
 
 	default_tests(s);
+#ifdef TORRENT_WINDOWS
+	TEST_EQUAL(s.save_path, "c:\\add_torrent_params save_path");
+#else
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.save_path, "/add_torrent_params save_path");
+#endif
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.sequential_download, false);
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.paused, true);
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.auto_managed, false);
@@ -213,7 +233,11 @@ int test_main()
 	s = test_resume_flags(add_torrent_params::flag_override_resume_data
 		| add_torrent_params::flag_seed_mode);
 	default_tests(s);
+#ifdef TORRENT_WINDOWS
+	TEST_EQUAL(s.save_path, "c:\\add_torrent_params save_path");
+#else
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.save_path, "/add_torrent_params save_path");
+#endif
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.sequential_download, false);
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.paused, false);
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.auto_managed, false);
@@ -228,7 +252,11 @@ int test_main()
 	fprintf(stderr, "flags: upload_mode\n");
 	s = test_resume_flags(add_torrent_params::flag_upload_mode);
 	default_tests(s);
+#ifdef TORRENT_WINDOWS
+	TEST_EQUAL(s.save_path, "c:\\add_torrent_params save_path");
+#else
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.save_path, "/add_torrent_params save_path");
+#endif
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.sequential_download, false);
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.paused, false);
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.auto_managed, false);
@@ -244,7 +272,11 @@ int test_main()
 	s = test_resume_flags(add_torrent_params::flag_override_resume_data
 		| add_torrent_params::flag_share_mode);
 	default_tests(s);
+#ifdef TORRENT_WINDOWS
+	TEST_EQUAL(s.save_path, "c:\\add_torrent_params save_path");
+#else
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.save_path, "/add_torrent_params save_path");
+#endif
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.sequential_download, false);
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.paused, false);
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.auto_managed, false);
@@ -260,7 +292,11 @@ int test_main()
 	fprintf(stderr, "flags: auto_managed\n");
 	s = test_resume_flags(add_torrent_params::flag_auto_managed);
 	default_tests(s);
+#ifdef TORRENT_WINDOWS
+	TEST_EQUAL(s.save_path, "c:\\add_torrent_params save_path");
+#else
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.save_path, "/add_torrent_params save_path");
+#endif
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.sequential_download, false);
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.paused, false);
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.auto_managed, false);
@@ -276,7 +312,11 @@ int test_main()
 	fprintf(stderr, "flags: paused\n");
 	s = test_resume_flags(add_torrent_params::flag_paused);
 	default_tests(s);
+#ifdef TORRENT_WINDOWS
+	TEST_EQUAL(s.save_path, "c:\\add_torrent_params save_path");
+#else
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.save_path, "/add_torrent_params save_path");
+#endif
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.sequential_download, false);
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.paused, false);
 	TEST_EQUAL(s.auto_managed, false);
diff --git a/test/test_torrent_parse.cpp b/test/test_torrent_parse.cpp
index 9a20edc47..ccdb2ac60 100644
--- a/test/test_torrent_parse.cpp
+++ b/test/test_torrent_parse.cpp
@@ -439,12 +439,20 @@ int test_main()
 		else if (std::string(test_torrents[i].file) == "slash_path.torrent")
 		{
 			TEST_EQUAL(ti->num_files(), 1);
+#ifdef TORRENT_WINDOWS
+			TEST_EQUAL(ti->file_at(0).path, "temp\\bar");
+#else
 			TEST_EQUAL(ti->file_at(0).path, "temp/bar");
+#endif
 		}
 		else if (std::string(test_torrents[i].file) == "slash_path2.torrent")
 		{
 			TEST_EQUAL(ti->num_files(), 1);
+#ifdef TORRENT_WINDOWS
+			TEST_EQUAL(ti->file_at(0).path, "temp\\abc....def\\bar");
+#else
 			TEST_EQUAL(ti->file_at(0).path, "temp/abc....def/bar");
+#endif
 		}
 		else if (std::string(test_torrents[i].file) == "slash_path3.torrent")
 		{